Longevity is sometimes overrated in handball. But for some players, even if it means taking a step back, they simply cannot stop playing the sport they grew to love since they were little.

Case in point - Yeliz Özel. The Türkiye centre back made her debut as a professional player back in 1998, when she started playing for PTT Türk Telekom SK in her hometown of Ankara. 

28 years later, Özel is still going strong and is featuring prominently for club side Bursa Büyüksehir BSK, which is only one step away from the semi-finals of the EHF European Cup Women, after a 36:30 win in the first leg of the quarter-finals against PAOK Thessaloniki.

Özel, one of the most creative players of the last decades, is still going strong, being her team’s second best scorer, with 18 goals in this European season, while aged 46 years old. Yes, at 46, Özel is still doing a great job playing handball.

“When I was growing up in Ankara, handball wasn’t a sport that was widely known or followed in my circle. However, thanks to my older sister playing handball, I had the opportunity to be introduced to the sport at an early age. My interest in handball developed naturally as I went to watch her practices. During my middle school years, the tryouts conducted by our coach, Hüsnü Kemal Durak, when he visited our school, turned this interest into a concrete step. I chose handball without hesitation, and with each passing practice, my dedication and passion for the sport grew even deeper,” says the centre back.

“From my childhood onward, I’ve always had a strong interest in and love for sports; as a result, I’ve always had an inner conviction that I could become a good athlete. The fact that my family has a natural aptitude for sports also gave me a significant advantage, both physically and mentally, throughout this journey. Early in my career, being selected for the national team during my first season at PTT was a major turning point that reinforced this belief. This experience not only heightened my awareness of my potential but also strengthened my motivation to pursue even greater goals.”

 

Women’s handball is on the rise in Türkiye, having never made an apperance to a major international competition until 2024, when they first managed to secure a place at the EHF EURO. There, Türkiye finished 20th out of 24 teams, with a 24:30 loss against Hungary, a 19:47 loss against Sweden, but managed to snatch an immense point at their debut, 25:25, against North Macedonia.

A few months later, Türkiye lost the doubleheader against Austria by 12 goals in the Qualification Europe – Phase 2 for the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, conceding two losses, 29:36 and 25:30. But the team is on the up, even if Özel has not featured for the national team since 2022, when she was part of the side which managed to secure a win against Iceland, 30:29, in the EHF EURO 2022 Qualifiers.

The centre back was, however, one of the first Turkish players to dip her feet outside of the home country. In 1999, she moved for one year to Norway, where she featured for one of the powerhouses of the Nordic country, Byasen Trondheim, a team which has produced some huge talent over the last decades, like line players Marit Malm Frafjord and Maren Nyland Aardahl, as well as world and Olympic champions Gøril Snorroeggen and Ida Alstad.

“The decision to go to Byåsen in Trondheim was a pretty critical and bold step for me, I was only 19 years old and made this choice very early in my career. My biggest motivation for making this decision was the goal of becoming the first female handball player from Türkiye to play abroad. Of course, the process was challenging at times, but it was just as educational and enjoyable. Thanks to this experience, I learned to view handball from a more global perspective, I rediscovered the game’s depth. This journey enhanced my understanding of the game and also transformed me into a stronger athlete, both mentally and professionally,” says Özel.

She quickly became a fan favourite thanks to her incredible skills, something that cannot be taught, but merely improved in training. Laser-focus passes, an ability to change the game via excellent combinations with the line player or the wings and some fantastic dribbling were and still are in Özel’s arsenal on the court.

 

“I believe that creativity and the ability to read the game have a certain innate component. However, I also believe that no talent can translate into success without being properly developed. For this reason, throughout my career, I have focused on developing these aspects through training and on-field experience. Over time, I can say that this process has improved my decision-making speed and creativity to a higher level,” says the centre back.

She spent only one year in Trondheim, then returned to Türkiye, where she featured again for PTT Türk Telekom, then Anadolu Eșkisehir and Üsküdar. But in 2004, Özel moved to European powerhouse Kometal, where in her maiden season went on as far as the final of the EHF Champions League Women.

However, meeting a true dream team in Slagelse DT in the final of the European premium competition meant that Kometal had little chance, conceding an aggregate loss, 43:54, in the final.

After two more years at Kometal, where she scored 136 goals in the EHF Champions League Women over three seasons, the centre back returned home, to feature in three seasons for giants Milli Piyango SK. But then, Özel dipped her toes again outside of her home country, signing for Romanian giants Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea in 2010.

“I believe that every transfer I’ve made and every club I’ve played for has played a significant role in shaping the athlete I am today,” adds Özel.

 

At Vâlcea, the centre back added 86 goals in two seasons in the Champions League and was also coached by one of the best centre backs of all time, Anja Andersen.

“The two seasons I spent at CS Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea were also a very valuable part of this development process. Training alongside top-level players and competing in matches at the highest level in Europe improved both my playing quality and my physical and mental resilience. I consider it a very valuable experience that made a significant contribution to my career and transformed me into a more mature and competitive athlete,” adds Özel.

It was her last experience outside of her home country, with Özel then featuring for Üsküdar, Ankara Yenimahalle BSK, Muratpașa Belediyesi SK, Kastamonu Belediyesi GSK, Yalikavaksports Club, Izmir BSB SK, again for Yalikavaksports and from this season for Bursa Büyüksehir BSK, where she won the domestic Cup and the domestic Supercup.

But how is Turkish handball now compared to when Özel first started playing, almost three decades ago?

“As someone who has been involved in Turkish women’s handball for over twenty years, I can say that there has been significant progress since I first started. The level of competition in the leagues and the players’ international experience have increased but there is still a gap between us and the top level in Europe,” says Özel.

“My own career, including my experiences in Europe, playing in the Champions League final, and serving as captain of the national team, demonstrates what a Turkish handball player can achieve when given the right opportunities. For this reason, I believe that greater emphasis must be placed on youth development, athlete education, and sustainable investments to further advance the sport.”

Yet is the centre back feeling the age? She is, after all, 46 years old, and most of her teammates were still making their first steps in handball when Özel was playing the Champions League final with Kometal.

“Even though I’m 46 years old, I still feel the same excitement and drive on the court as I did on my very first day. For me, it’s the clearest sign of my passion for handball. What keeps me going is my love for the game and the feeling that I can still make a difference,” says the centre back.

And, of course, she inspired plenty of people, being a fan-favourite wherever she played.

“I still receive messages from many young players, both from my country and from abroad. Hearing that they look up to me is a great source of pride for me and also a source of motivation. I see it as a source of energy that reminds me of my responsibilities. I am aware that the attitude I display both on and off the field serves as an example for young people, and it makes me more disciplined and focused. If I can contribute even a little to their dreams, that is one of the greatest rewards for me,” says Özel.

 

“When I step onto the court, I know my body very well and manage it properly; this makes my performance sustainable. Mentally, I feel stronger than ever. The game intelligence and composure that come with experience allow me to make better decisions on the court. This balance is one of the main reasons I’m still playing at the top level.”

Between that motivation and trophies, the latter also serve as a hugely motivational factor, especially at this age, with Bursa being a few steps away of a trophy which would galvanise the support for women’s handball in Türkiye.

“Throughout my career, I’ve achieved significant successes; however, I never had the opportunity to experience an European trophy with a Turkish team. Today, coming this close to realising that dream with Bursa in the European Cup holds special meaning for me and serves as a major source of motivation,” adds Özel.

But how long can she continue playing?

“Every athlete’s career comes to an end, and that day will certainly come for me as well. However, rather than setting a specific date right now, I evaluate each season on its own merits. As long as I feel physically and mentally ready and can contribute to my team on the field, I want to keep playing. When that day comes, I want to be remembered for my presence on the field, my fight, my discipline, and my character. Being a player who leaves a mark, a trailblazer who paves the way, and a person who is respected, that is my greatest value,” concludes the centre back.

Credit photo: Bursa Büyüksehir BSK